The cells were found during the weekend as the troops carried out search operations in the Kohat Frontier Region for suspected hideouts of militants, DAWN newspaper reported Monday.

The troops demolished a jail and the headquarters of local militants, the report said quoting officials and local residents. The headquarters located in the Paya area of Tor Chappar was being used by a local cleric to decide religious matters and issue decrees, the report said.

The troops also destroyed a terrorist training camp and an arms depot in nearby areas.

The security forces recovered a large quantity of stolen arms and ammunition from a Taliban camp. They reportedly included 120mm and 130mm mortars, more than 800 pounds of explosives and numerous land mines.

The report said the arms were taken by the militants when they captured five military ammunition trucks on Jan. 23.